Blood C/S - BacT/Alert (without bottle)
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Detect bacteria or fungi in bloodstream causing sepsis or systemic infections
₹420₹1045
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🧪 Blood Culture & Sensitivity – BacT/ALERT (Without Bottle)
Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
Test Name | Blood Culture & Sensitivity (C/S) using BacT/ALERT system |
Sample Type | Whole Blood collected in a sterile syringe (without pre-supplied bottle) |
Fasting Required | ❌ Not required |
Used For | Detection of bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream |
Organ System | Systemic – evaluates risk of bacteremia, fungemia, or sepsis |
Time to Report | Preliminary: 24–48 hours; Final: 5–7 days |
🧬 What Does "Without Bottle" Mean?
- The "without bottle" term indicates that only the sample collection is done, but the specialized BacT/ALERT culture bottles are not provided by the laboratory.
- It typically means the healthcare provider or hospital supplies the culture bottles or collects the sample in a sterile syringe and sends it to the lab for inoculation into BacT/ALERT bottles.
- It is essential to maintain strict aseptic technique to avoid contamination.
⚠️ Why It Matters
Parameter | With Bottle | Without Bottle |
|---|---|---|
Collection Method | Blood drawn directly into BacT/ALERT bottles | Blood drawn into syringe/vial, transferred later |
Contamination Risk | Lower (direct inoculation) | Higher (manual handling) |
Best Use Scenario | Outpatient settings or diagnostic labs | Emergency or bedside collection where lab kit isn’t available |
🧫 Purpose of the Test
Clinical Use | Details |
|---|---|
🔍 Identify Infections | Detect bacteria or fungi in bloodstream causing sepsis or systemic infections |
💉 Guide Treatment | Determines which antibiotics the pathogen is sensitive or resistant to |
🦠 Detect Hospital Infections | Especially useful in ICU, dialysis, or catheterized patients |
🌡️ When Is It Ordered?
- Fever of unknown origin (FUO)
- Suspected sepsis or septic shock
- Post-surgical or hospital-acquired infections
- Bloodstream infections in immunocompromised individuals
- Monitoring bacteremia in infective endocarditis or meningitis
🔬 Common Pathogens Detected
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Klebsiella species
- Escherichia coli
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Enterococcus species
- Candida species (fungi)
📋 Additional Recommendations
Recommended Tests Alongside | Reason |
|---|---|
CBC (Complete Blood Count) | Check for elevated WBCs |
CRP / Procalcitonin | Inflammatory markers to monitor sepsis |
Lactate levels | Evaluate severity of sepsis |
Urine C/S, Sputum C/S, Wound C/S | Identify other foci of infection |
Imaging (e.g., chest X-ray, CT scan) | Identify underlying infection source |
🧪 Precautions for Sample Collection
- Must be collected before antibiotic therapy begins
- 2–3 sets from different sites improve detection accuracy
- Avoid contamination by cleaning site with 70% alcohol + iodine or chlorhexidine
📌 Summary
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Test | Blood Culture & Sensitivity – BacT/ALERT (no bottle) |
Collected In | Syringe or vacutainer, transferred to culture bottles at lab |
Turnaround Time | 24–48 hrs preliminary; 5–7 days for complete report |
Purpose | Detect bloodstream infections, guide antibiotic use |
How our test process works!
